Citizens who are hard of hearing or deaf have an additional resource to use when they interact with law enforcement.

The tool is a two-way communication card created by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and Department of Human Services. It aims to make often-stressful situations easier to navigate for both parties.

The deaf and hard-of-hearing community also provided significant input on the product, according to Minnesota State Patrol Sgt. Jesse Grabow.

"Hopefully it will make that whole interaction safer, easier, and more efficient for both (the officer and the citizen)," said Grabow. The card is available online for citizens to print and keep in their car.

For area-law enforcement, however, officers often rely on different methods to communicate with people with disabilities.

Cards similar to this are not available for police from Sauk Rapids, Sartell, Waite Park, St. Cloud or the Stearns County Sheriff's Office.

In the case of the Stearns County Jail, according to Chief Deputy Jon Lentz, an iPad is available to help with communication.

Some of the departments have highlighted the new resource, however, for officers to print if they wish to.

Sauk Rapids Police Chief Perry Beise said the police department conducts less traffic stops than the state patrol. When needed, officers will write notes to communicate with people who are hard of hearing.

All other area agencies follow similar steps, where officers use pen and paper to communicate with people on the street. For more involved interactions, such as witness or victim statements, each department will coordinate with a certified American Sign Language interpreter.

However, deaf and hard-of-hearing communities are not the only citizens who may experience communication barriers with law enforcement.

Sartell police(Photo: Sartell police)

People with disabilities such as autism may face difficulties in those situations and are sometimes afraid of the police, according to Jenna Berger, executive director of UCP of Central Minnesota.

UCP of Central Minnesota works to support people with all disabilities and has worked with local law enforcement to broach how officers interact with people with disabilities, according to Berger.

Tragic situations often are the catalyst to finding communication devices or plans for people with disabilities, said Berger, but local law enforcement has made a proactive effort to address the topic.

Berger said the organization has met with both Waite Park and St. Cloud police to discuss the topic.

Buy Photo

In a Times file photo, a St. Cloud Police Department squad car is shown.(Photo: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)

Both departments have provided training to officers on how to respond to calls with people who are autistic, according to authorities.

Initiatives like the two-way card are helpful for the community, said Berger, and helps create trust.

"If you have those cards available immediately, then if someone does have a communication device, they will take it out," said Berger. "They feel they can work with you."

Follow Clairissa Baker on Twitter @clairissabaker or call her at 320-255-8740.